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Death certificate

When a person in the Netherlands dies, a death certificate must be drawn up. This is done at the Civil Registry of the municipality where the person has died.

Registration of a death in Amsterdam

Registration of a death is usually taken care of by the undertaker, but it can also be done by a family member, friend or anyone else that has personal knowledge of the death. A death must be registered in the municipality where the person died; in the case of Amsterdam, this means the Department of Civil Affairs (Burgerzaken) of a city office (stadsloket). In principle this needs to be done within six days of the death in question. The following documentation must be provided: a valid identity document (passport, driving license, Dutch identity card or residence permit) of the person handling the registration and a death certificate drawn up by a doctor.

Once the death certificate has been drawn up, the death is registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen).

Six-day period

Usually a person must be buried or cremated within six working days of his or her death. This can only be done once the registrar of the Civil Registry has issued a burial or cremation certificate. It is therefore advisable to register the death as soon as possible. For information about repatriation of a deceased, you need to contact the relevant embassy or consulate.

Death in a country outside the Netherlands

If a resident of Amsterdam has died outside the Netherlands, then the Department of Civil Affairs of a city office must be notified. The death can then be registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database.

You will need to provide a death certificate and, if necessary, a translation of this complete with authentication.

Special circumstances

A death certificate may be drawn up in the following exceptional cases:

on ‘presumption of death’: This means that there is strong evidence that a person has died but there is no absolute certainty

if a death is entered in the Municipal Personal Records Database without a certificate

Further information

If you require further information, call the city information number 14 020 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 18:00).

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